Just what we were hoping to avoid

(SHELBY) -- FIREFIGHERS WORST FEARS CAME TRUE LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON NEAR THE TOOLE AND LIBERTY COUNTY LINE.

SHELBY VOLUNTEER FIRE CHIEF RON BUCK SAYS THE WILDFIRE WAS FUELED BY 30-40 AN HOUR WEST WINDS AND BEFORE IT WAS FINALLY CONTAINED IT HAD BURNED MORE THAN 6-THOUSAND ACRES, A COUPLE OF OUTBUILDINGS AND A HOUSE. BUCK SAID THE FIRE ENDED UP COVERING APPROXIMATELY A 7-MILE STRETCH, STARTING NORTHEAST OF GALATA AND SPREADING TO NORTHEAST OF LOTHAIR.

THE FAST-MOVING FIRE BURNED SOME WHEAT CROP AND C-R-P GRASS AND FIREFIGHTERS REMAINED ON THE SCENE UNTIL AROUND 2:30 AM SUNDAY MORNING.

THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS BELIEVED TO BE FROM A COMBINE WORKING IN THE AREA. THE HOME THAT BURNED WAS ON THE PROPERTY OF DENNIS AND LYNDA BARKER.